The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25


Rocky River church is situated on the east
side OF Rocky River, in the western limits OF
Abbeville county, and Is about fourteen miles
from Abbeville Court House. But since the
date OF its organization the name and l9Ga-
first name was "Bull Town." the origin OF
which we have no certain knowledge, but
reliable tradition, given by one OF the mem
age of 81 years, says when she was a little girl
she heard older people say 1t originated 10
this way: There was in the olden time stili
house on the spring branch near the churcn'
and the rustic men of those days would u.s.
semble there on Saturday evenings for live,
" time. They would talk and laugh, play oid
time games and wrestle, and Of course would
enjoy the pure product OF tne od n SILL cond hf Se
the stoutest and best man In the croWd: IN
their wrestles and tisticuffs they would olus-
ter around with noisy threats, and In some
instances fall into hard down fight, merely
for the purpose of gaining big reputation.
From these rude associations the place receiv-
ed the name of "Bull Town, and 1t Is no won
der, in after years, that change was MADE IN
But, like all bad associations, which never
seem to die, the name Of Bull Town" sun
lives by Itself and is used till this day TO des-
ignate O certain body of land in the vicinity
OF the place where the old church stood over
one hundred years ago. The exact site OF the
old house may be seen to-day. 1t is about
three miles to the southeast OF the present @ TO-
IL.
terey. There is large graveyard near the
church which may be seen, and a bold spring
Of pure water bursting out Of the rock-all OF
r9HsIe %IsterY ane says Triumph pat Bull Town was
The outlines OF this old fort can be very dis
tinctly seen to-day. 1t was built OF rock,
hundred yards from the spring on an eleva-
tion overlooking the whole surrounding forest
for a considerable distance: Tradition says
- tIn tot thnr nj a ln n
Mrs. Haskell, was born in this fort.
History also says: "ln this neighborhood
the Indians and the Tories were very active,
but In the midst of these scenes 1t must not be
pended. Devout worshippers often bowed be-
fore Him on their arms, and 1t is asserted that
the Rev. John Harris, tho first pastor of the
enp besde m and Ss s
pended from his neck after the fashion OF
those days."
How thankful the present pastor and men,
bers Of this old church should be that they can
leave their guns and ammunition mt home, and
assemble for the worship of God with none to
modest or make afraid!
In tracing the early history OF this church
up to a certain time, we are dependent main
ly upon materials furnished by the Rev.
Francis Cummins, d. D., who was appointed
by the Presbytery In 1898 to collect facts In re-
gard to the early history Of all the churches.
These records made by Dir. Cummins were re-
ceived and approved by the Presbytery at that
day as stauthentlc records" and they went in-
to the hands Of DR.. George Howe, when he
compiled his history OF the Presbyterian
In tracing the early history OF this church IT.
VIII be necessary to notice, In part, the histo-
ry of other churches in the county at that day,
especially that OF Upper and Lower Long Cane.
The early und eventful history of these three
churches up TO q certain time, Is 80 closely re-
lated and interviewer that the records do not
speak of one without referring to the other,
and this is most natural when we remember
the disturbed and ever changing condition Of
those days. 1t was time when the country
was unsettled and in Il state Of excitement
and war. The first question TO be determined
Is the
DATE OF ORGANIZATION OF THIS CHURCH.
The present Manual of the Presbytery OF
South Carolina says that Rocky River, Upper
Long Cane and Lower Long Cane (now Hope
well) were all organized in l7si, and believe
that Upper Long Cane recently commemo-
rated her centennial under that impression.
But the Manual Is guess work. and the Long
Cane centennial was great historical blum
der, although 1t was grand occasion.
The Presbyterial records approved and ac-
cepted shortly after l7g3, clearly prove that
these three churches Upper Long Cane, Hope.
well and Rocky River-were organized at
least ten years prior to 1874, and that they had
settled pastors at that time, as we shall see.
back to the beginning and dig 1t out Of the
records. DR.. Howe, drawing from the manu-
script of DR.. Cummins, says: "The first i'm
portant settlement was made In Abbevllle
county In 1855 by eight families of the Presby.
terian faith" The majority OF these being OF
the name of Calhoun, the particular settle
ment took its name from them. This colony,
headed by Patrick Calhoun, the father Of the
great statesman, was not only the first Pres
byteriun settlement In the county, but about
the first OF any kind.
1t is said, previous to the settlement Of
Patrick Calhoun and his friends there were
northwestern extremity of the province.
BY the year 1859 the number OF Presbyterian
families had increased to between twenty and
thirty. The views and expectations of these
settlers were to form Presbyterian church,
but in l760 the Cherokee Indians broke In up
on them, killed twenty-five persons and car
the survivors. In this state Of dispersion they
remained for two years, and then returned
with considerable additions to their numbers.
About the end of 1853 the Indians again
barity. The people took refuge In such fori-
fed places as they could reach. There were
twenty-seven men. one hundred and Three
women and hildlen IN Fort Boone, thirty,
seven men, one hundred and five women and
children in fort at the Long Canes. Thus
they were situated until the year lI6i when
the Rev. VIM. Richardson visited them as q
preacher of the gospel, and although his visiE
was short, he contributed something towards
the organization of the church."
WAS 1T ROCKY RIVER, LONG CANE OR Low.
Err LONG CANE?
This is the first notice of any effort towards
"the organization Of the church" In Abbe.
willie county, and this was In 17Gi. But the
question arises, what church? was II Rocky
River, Upper Long Cane or Lower Long Cane,
now Hopewell, that the Rev. VIM. Richard
son contributed something towards orsaniz-
Ing?
The records show that II was oil Of them rs
one church,-tha he gathered up all the Pres
bSterian element In the county Mt that day
and contributed something, In that way, to-
srat tered Condition of the people made II nee